Webhamer Weblog: Search & ICT-related blogging

In my quest for the right software to do the things I want to do on Linux I stumbled upon Automatrix . This should be an application for installing and running verous software packages. Amongst them are codecs to play windows based mediafiles.

A couple of days the news came to me that Ubuntu has released his 7.04 version (Feisty Fawn). I decided that it was time to finally get to use Linux. I had experimented earlier with Linux (Mandrake, Redhat, Fedora, Debian) but I never got to using it seriously.

So I installed Ubuntu 7.04 on my Windows XP machine as a Virtual Machine and started using it. The install process went very smooth and the installation of extra software package  is very easy. You can simply browse the directory with software, select what you want an Ubuntu installs it. After installation the program is added to the menu-category where it belong to!

While using Ubuntu to browse the web and managing (windows) servers (through a terminal services client) I missed my music. MP3 support is not natively installed because of license things but you can install the neccesary codec through the software manager. I now could listen to my music collection to.

After 3 days I decided to install Ubuntu on my Laptop, next to my Windows XP installation. Again, the install  went very well. Back at work on monday I started using Ubuntu in an office environment for the first time. From that moment on I slowly realised that I was missing some very important functionality.

I have a windows mobile based PDA (QTek S200) that normally synchronises with ActiveSync to Outlook on my computer. That couldn’t be done on Ubuntu! I had a major problem with that.

I always use two screens to do my daily work. As a programmer / adviser I really need the desktop space. With Ubuntu I haven’t figured out how to extend my desktop to two screens. That is a major productivity loss for me.

For the rest of my work that day, I really didn’t miss Windows…..

At night I often watch TV through the internet. My provider has a streaming TV portal (www.televisieportal.nl) with all the dutch tv streams (and some foreign too).  With Ubuntu the (windows based .asf) streams didn’t work. Because I really wanted to see the movie “The naked gun” I put my other laptop next to me and watched the movie while working on my Ubuntu laptop.

The next day (today) I decided that my leap towards a real Ubuntu installation was to big. I now am using Ubuntu on a Virtual Machine again.I will be using Ubuntu for my normal work. But just not to loose any productivity, I am running Windows and Outlook at the side.

The next couple of posts I will keep a record of my findings and experiences with Ubuntu.

Just read an article on nformation archtypes as published by PEW internet.  on the research.

It describes the different types of persons in relation to their use of technoogy and information.  Think I am a type 1 or 2.

I just logged on to my IGoogle page and noticed a change in the upper left corner of the screen. A menu that wasn’t there earlier:

www.drivehq.com

www.omnidrive.com

You can also use GMail as online storage.

See http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=427

The original 7 world wonders:
The Temple of Artemis
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The Lighthouse at Alexandria
The Pyramids at Giza
The Statue of Zeus

The new Wonders:
The Acropolis
Alhambra
Angkor
Chichen Itzá
Christ Redeemer
The Colosseum
Easter Island
Eiffel Tower
Great Wall of China
Hagia Sophia
Kiyomizu Temple
Kremlin
Machu Picchu
Neuschwanstein Castle
Petra
Pyramids of Giza (an Honorary New7Wonders Candidate)
Statue of Liberty
Stonehenge
Sydney Opera House
Taj Mahal
Timbuktu

I read a lot of ICT-related magazines and blogs. Therefore I know about a lot of brilliant software solutions that are out there.

I decided to put that knowledge to this Blog. Be prepared for many posts of new or interesting programs!

Every now and then I want to record a TV program of movie. The VCR is outdated because of the hassle with the tapes (What’s on this tape?, Where doas the movie on this tape stop? etc.).
Because I don’t own a Harddiskrecorder yet I had to found an easy way to record analog TV signal to digital media.

I do have a TV-card in my PC so I use that whenever I wnat to record it there. But the supply of digital media throuh the internet has the future and I don’t have a TV-card in every PC or laptop… I do have internet access everywhere!

I found Windows Media Recorder Pro and I love it. It records every stream that you can listen to or view on your PC.

Just found a great tool for backing up your digital music collection!

Total Recorder records every audiostream your PC produces. This includes the playing of protected content. Remember your tracks that you bought online? When your PC crashes you lose your credentials, when the online store disappears you can no longer get the rights to play the songs that are yours!

Total Recorder lets you save those digital rights protected songs as MP3 or WMA but without the rights. You can save the songs to whatever medium you want.

Henk van Ess (van Voelspriet.nl) heeft weer iets nieuws bedacht en gemaakt! De dienst geeft een overzicht van alle nederlandse bronnen die Google Nieuws gebruikt. Per bron kan je opzoeken welke documenten er in zitten. Ook geeft het rapport een overzicht van de nieuwste items op Google, hoe lang deze op Google staan etc. etc.

Een schat aan informatie voor een ieder die het nieuws op de voet volgt en tevens interesse heeft in de geheimen van Google.

Google Nieuws Rapport Nederland samenvatting, gemaakt 03/05 08.25